Greater fighter: Thomas Hearns or Wladimir Klitschko

Two ATGs with similar attributes, records, trainer, and weaknesses. Both Hearns and Wlad were tall, dangerous punchers with a great jab and also trained by the late Emanuel Steward. Their chin and durability weren’t the best and they both had 5 losses with 4 being by stoppages. One notable difference was the way they implemented their styles where Hearns was more aggressive minded that made him exciting to watch whereas Wladimir was more conservative, tactful, and could be a spoiler at times. But both have been involved in some well known classic bouts.

Based on resume and achievements who is the greater fighter in your opinion?

Thomas Hearns (61-5-1, 48 KOs): 5 weight division champion, and has beaten Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Pipino Cuevas, Virgil Hill

Wladimir Klitschko (64-5, 53 KOs): Olympic gold medalist, long reigning unified champion, and has beaten Samuel Peters, Ruslan Chagaev, Sultan Inragimov, David Haye, Alexander Povetkin, Chris Byrd,

 

As usual, The Hitman always wins.

 

I just like Hearns more.

His style,his resume,his accomplishments,everything.

 

Hearns, by a fair margin.

Clearly, you can't hold being a 1 weight division champion only against Wlad, but that doesn't preclude Hearns from getting additional credit for winning titles in 5 x divisions. How many WW titlests have gone on to win a world strap at LHW?

Mostly, however, it's Hearns by a fair margin, because he fought, and beat, the greater opposition, p4p.

 

Tommy for sure. He could box silky smooth and fight like a junkyard dog. Had both speed and power. Vlad used his size well and was very cerebral but didn't inspire folks like Tommy did. The only time that I could recall Vlad fighting with that same sort of passion was his last fight with Joshua. I like both of them but Tommy wore his heart on his sleeve for all of us to see.

 

Hearns has some big, big wins. Wlad has the consistency and the defences. You could make an argument for either I guess.

 

Hearns is a fighter. Wlad is a wreslter.

Hearns easily.

 

IMO it's closer than most people say as Wlad was one of the dominant heavyweight champions in history but P4P terms tends to slightly favour lighter guys generally and Hearns did in multiple weight classes.

 

Tommy easily.

 

Hearns by a considerable margin.

 

Could not have said it better! The "Hit Man" all day, everyday!!

 

It's no contest.

 

Hearns for many reasons. Main one for me is Hearns would fight you at any range. Wlad panicked if it wasn't at long range. The amount of holding Wlad did made me very uninterested in watching him. He literally disappointed me everytime I watched him whearas Hearns didn't hold enough. My main two of many reasons. Hearns all day.

 

Hearns convincingly IMO.

And that's no disrespect to Wladimir but unless you're Ali or Louis. Pretty much most Heavyweights haven't got the resume or competition to compete with the smaller P4P greats in regards to resume.

Just Hearns beating Benitez, Duran, Hill, those names alone are way better than anything on Wladimir's resume by a huge margin.

I also include Hearns's draw over Leonard as a win because its considered such a bad decision.

So if you're like me and consider the rematch vs Leonard to be a win then it's even more of a landslide victory for Hearns.

Wladimir has double the world titles 25 to 12 and he has the dominace. But Hearns's P4P feats from Welterweight to Cruiserweight and the sheer quality of resume is too much to overcome.

Thomas Hearns resume

Sugar Ray Leonard = Yes I'm including the draw as a win it was enough of a bad decision to be included.

Roberto Duran
Wilfred Benitez
Virgil Hill
Piping Cuevas
Juan Roldan
James Kinchen
Nate Miller
Dennis Andries
James Shuler
Mark Medal
Doug Dewitt
Saensak Muangsurin
Murray Sutherland
Bruce Curry
Angel Espada
Clyde Gray
Randy Shields
Harold Weston

World titles at Welterweight, Jr Middleweight, Middleweight, Light Heavyweight.

12 world title wins overall.


Wladimir Klitschko resume

Chris Byrd x2
David Haye
Samuel Peter x2
Alexander Povetkin
Samuel Peter x2
Calvin Brock
Rusland Chagaev
Lamon Brester
Hasim Rahman
Eddie Chambers
Kubrat Pulev
Sultan Ibragimov
Bryant Jennings
Ray Mercer 42 years old though.
Jean Marc Mormeck
Tony Thompson
Jameel McCline

World titles at Heavyweight, 25 world title wins.

As I said Wladimir has more filler with the title defences and he has the dominace on his side.

But Hearns's P4P feats and his top 4 wins are just way too good for Wladimir to overcome.

 

Good post. Like the way you broke it down.